Dual handle cooler box design, blank and methods

• US 10,611,514 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2019
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BRRR Box LLC
• Original Assignee: THATBox Design, LLC
• Inventors: Costanzo, Jr., Donn J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Demeree, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US16/273,143
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 22911714, 229186, 22911706, 229138, 229920, 229114, 22911701, 229190, 206163, 206169, 206427, 493311, 624575, 62371, 624571, 624577, 62464
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2100/0024 having all side walls attached to the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/26 Folding sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/241 and the gussets folds connected to the inside of the container body B65D5/247 and B65D5/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4266 Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4608 Handgrip holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46112 either the handle elements being formed with lugs which engage with the other side walls or closure flaps, or the other closure flaps folding over a part of the handle to maintain the handle in position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4612 formed by extensions of side flaps or by side flaps of a container formed by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/563 Laminated linings; Coatings

Abstract

Dual handle box designs, blanks for forming boxes by folding, collapsible and non-collapsible boxes formed thereby, and manufacturing methods therefor are disclosed. Preferably each handle is located on an opposite end of the box; is two-ply; defines an elongate hand opening for receiving fingers of a hand; defines an elongate tab opening for receiving a tab of a center handle, and that intersects the hand opening; and defines a recess for receiving and retaining a lid panel of the box. Furthermore, the boxes preferably have a waterproof or water-resistant coating applied and are used as ice coolers for beverages and food items.

Claims

1. A method of gripping and carrying a box, comprising:

(a) gripping a single handle of the box located at a central location of the box; and

alternatively

(b) gripping two end handles of the box each end handle located at opposite ends of the box;

(c) wherein the box comprises

(i) a bottom panel;

(ii) a first end panel connected directly to the bottom panel;

(iii) a second end panel located opposite the first end panel and connected directly to the bottom panel;

(iv) a first side panel connected directly to the bottom panel;

(v) a first corner panel defined by two subpanels connected directly together along and separated by a fold line, one of the subpanels of the first corner panel connected directly to the first side panel along and separated by a fold line, and the other of the subpanels of the first corner panel connected directly to the first end panel along and separated by a fold line;

(vi) a second corner panel defined by two subpanels connected directly together along and separated by a fold line, one of the subpanels of the second corner panel connected directly to the first side panel along and separated by a fold line, and the other of the subpanels of the second corner panel connected directly to the second end panel along and separated by a fold line;

(vii) a first tab-lock panel defined by two subpanels connected directly together along and separated by a fold line, one of the subpanels of the first tab-lock panel connected directly to the first corner panel along and separated by a fold line;

(viii) a second tab-lock panel defined by two subpanels connected directly together along and separated by a fold line, one of the subpanels of the second tab-lock panel connected directly to the second corner panel along and separated by a fold line;

(ix) a first lid panel connected directly to the first side panel; and

(x) a center handle panel defined by two subpanels connected directly together along and separated by a fold line, one of the subpanels of the center handle panel connected directly to the first lid panel along and separated by a fold line, the center handle panel having tabs located on opposite ends thereof;

(d) wherein the single handle at the central location is defined by the subpanels of the center handle panel; and

(e) wherein one of the two end handles is defined by the two subpanels of the first tab-lock panel, and the other of the two end handles is defined by the two subpanels of the second tab-lock panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the single handle at the central location is a two-ply handle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the end handles is a two-ply handle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second end handles defines a hand opening configured to receive fingers of a hand and defines a tab opening configured to receive one of the tabs of the center handle panel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hand opening and the tab opening of each of the end handles are elongate and generally extend orthogonal to each other.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the hand opening and the tab opening of each of the end handles intersect each other.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the hand opening and the tab opening of each of the end handles bisect each other.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subpanels of the center handle panel define aligned tabs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the subpanels of each tab-lock panel define aligned notches configured to receive aligned tabs.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the end handles are equally spaced relative to a center of the box for counterbalancing torques that result from supporting the box by the first and second two-ply handles.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising holding the box to one'"'"'s side proximate a hip while performing said step (a).

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising holding the box in front of one'"'"'s self while performing said step (b).